APACHE/AZTEC TIP TANK [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

Our tip tank system is considered one of the best on the market today. It is simple in design, yet extremely reliable and efficient. The tanks are incorporated directly into our high performance wing tips, thereby giving you the aerodynamic benefits of the Hoerner design, along with the many flight and safety advantages of having additional fuel on board. Total capacity is 48 gallons-24 in each tip. They are constructed of reinforced fiberglass covered with a white gel coat. The fiberglass construction gives us the ability to form the most aerodynamically efficient shape possible, yet still maintain the structural integrity of a metal tank. These tanks have a far longer life than bladder or metal constructed tanks plus they are easily repaired if damaged (say by an errant fuel truck). Net weight increase is only 25 pounds.

INSTALLATION AND OPERATION

TIP TANK SCHEMATIC [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

TIP TANK KIT [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

The system was designed with two basic goals in mind: Make it simple and make it virtually foolproof. We feel we have met both these goals admirably well. The system is entirely gravity fed. As the drawing shows, the Met-Co tanks replace the conventional wing tips currently on your aircraft. Using the preformed lines provided with the kit, fuel is routed from the tip tank around the outboard main tank to where it interconnects with the fuel line coming out of the outboard tank. The line tees in here with a one-way check valve to prevent overflow of the outboard main tank and THAT'S IT! There is no change to the fuel selector. When you select the outboard tank you are drawing fuel from both the tip tank and the main tank simultaneously. A placard is provided for the cockpit gauge to show the increased fuel capacity. In the case of an Aztec, we go from 36 gallons in the mains, plus 24 extra in the tip, for a total of 60 gallons of fuel per side! The fact that the tank is entirely gravity fed makes it virtually foolproof. Its simplistic design makes installation extremely easy. Remember there are no boost pumps or transfer pumps to hook up. (Or to fail!) Average installation time is only 25 hours. Finally, it's important to note that the Hoerner design "squares up" the wing tips. This allows for ample lift area, yet creates an overall reduction in wing span by a few inches. Consequently, a PA-23 using our tanks would be much easier to maneuver into a hangar.

APACHE/AZTEC HOERNER TIP [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

Our design reduces drag while smoothing the airflow along the wing and control surfaces. By minimizing the vortices caused by the wing and actually having them start later our tip gives performance increases without the usual penalties. We CAN get increases in climb and in cruise. We CAN reduce stall without adversely effecting handling. You may not think you’re taking off from a carrier, but you may think you took out someone else’s plane.

Our tips installed on your aircraft will:
• Increase cruise 3-6 mph
• Increase rate of climb 60 ft./min.
• Increase stability with more positive aileron control
• Decrease stall speed 4-5 mph
• Decrease distance for take-off

The Met-Co-Aire, Inc. wing tips are constructed of hand-laid polyester resin fiberglass as are all of our products. They come with a white gel-coat, which serves as the prime coat for painting. Though the finish on our tips often looks like paint we recommend that you paint them. The gel-coat acts as a white bottom coat, which helps minimize bleeding through as in the case of a grey base coat.

APACHE DORSAL FIN [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

Constructed to the same high standards as our wing tips, the dorsal fin is designed to increase the directional stability of the PA-23. It accomplishes this by adding more fin area behind the C.G. location on the Apache, thereby making the aircraft more stable in yaw or movement about its vertical axis.

APACHE/AZTEC TIP TANK [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

Our windshield comes clear or tinted (gray or green) and is manufactured from .250" thick aviation grade acrylic. Our STC allows you to eliminate the center window support, providing a better view along with making the aircraft more aerodynamically "clean."